97 pages • 3 hours read
Alan BradleyThe Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley follows 11-year-old Flavia de Luce as she investigates the death of a stranger found in her family's garden. Living in a 1950s English manor with a distant father, two bullying sisters, and a supportive gardener, Flavia uncovers secrets involving a rare stamp and a decades-old mystery tied to her father’s past, ultimately solving the crime through her wit and determination.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Alan Bradley's The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie captivates readers with its charming protagonist, Flavia de Luce, a precocious eleven-year-old sleuth. The novel blends wit, intricate plotting, and rich, period ambiance. Some find the pacing slow and the mystery predictable. Overall, it offers an enjoyable, nostalgic read with a vividly drawn, engaging heroine.
Who Should Read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie?
A reader who enjoys The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley appreciates clever, young protagonists and classic mystery elements. Fans of Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series will revel in Flavia de Luce's whimsical and insightful sleuthing in a quaint English village.
RecommendedReading Age
14+yearsLexile Level
960LBook Details
Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Life/Time: The Past
Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Mystery / Crime Fiction
Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
British Literature
History: World